Variety of Rudbeckia Plant Named &#39;BullRudi 06&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  rudbeckia  plant having a compact growth habit with numerous long-lasting and large blooms.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/386,453, filed Dec. 2, 2015, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Botanical classification: Rudbeckia hirta L.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullRudi 06’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of rudbeckiaplant known by the varietal name ‘BullRudi 06’. The new variety wasdiscovered in October of 2013 in Gönnebeck, Germany as the result of aplanned breeding program with the purposes of providing rudbeckia plantswith improved growth, foliage, and blooms, including developing newcolor combinations of rudbeckia blooms. The new variety is the result ofcross between an unpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having aninternal breeder's reference of “Bull M 2011-01” (female parent) and anunpatented Rudbeckia hirta L. variety having an internal breeder'sreference of “Bull M 2011-02” (male parent) from the breeder's owncollection. The new variety is similar to its parental varieties inbotanical classification, but exhibits a more compact growth habit,cleaner foliage, and longer lasting and larger blooms than both of itsparental varieties. When ‘BullRudi 06’ is compared to Rudbeckia hirta L.variety named ‘Prärie Sun’ (unpatented), ‘BullRudi 06’ is similar to‘Prärie Sun’ in botanical classification, but ‘BullRudi 06’ exhibitsimproved plant quality, plant strength, growth, foliage, and largerblooms that differ in color from those of ‘Prärie Sun’. Further, thefollowing characteristics distinguish ‘BullRudi 06’ when generallycompared to other rudbeckia varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   Good self-branching;    -   An upright and compact growth habit;    -   Healthy, clean, and medium-sized foliage;    -   Long-lasting and large blooms; and    -   Differing bloom color.        ‘BullRudi 06’ has been trial and field tested and has been found        to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to        type through successive propagations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety at 18weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible withcolor illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a bloom of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via invitro tissue culture in October of 2013 carried out in Gönnebeck,Germany. Plants of the new variety were grown outdoors in 21 cm (4liter) pots and the color readings and measurements were observed undernatural light on 18 week old plants in G6nnebeck, Germany. Colorreferences are primarily to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

-   Plant:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7-10 days at approximately 18°            C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 38-45 days at approximately            16-18° C.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted            cutting.—About 12-14 weeks in a 21 cm container.        -   Rooting habit.—Exhibits numerous roots of medium thickness            that are freely branching and healthy in color.        -   Plant height.—About 50-65 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 35-45 cm.        -   Vigor.—Medium, with a compact growth habit.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Nothing unusual noted to date.        -   Temperature tolerance.—From −5 to +40° C.        -   Drought tolerance.—Average.        -   Branching habit.—Exhibits one dominant strong branch with            the biggest bloom and a few lateral side branches. All            branches are upright, forming a nice round habit.        -   Branches (flowering stems).—Number per plant: 8-15. Length:            8-20 cm. Diameter: 6-10 mm. Internode length: 2-10 cm.            Angle: Upright. Strength: Strong. Texture: Stable, with            pubescence present. Color: Approximately Green Group RHS            137C with several red spots.        -   Foliage.—Arrangement: Alternate and simple. Leaf: Length:            9-22 cm. Width: 2-9 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute. Margin: Dentate and            undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence            present. Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.            Color: Young leaves: Upper surface: Approximately Green            Group RHS 137C. Lower surface: Approximately Green Group RHS            138B. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Approximately Green            Group RHS 137C, with some reddish-brown spots present. Lower            surface: Approximately Green Group RHS 138B, with some            reddish-brown spots present. Petiole: None present. Veins:            Venation type: Pinnate. Color: Upper surface: Approximately            Yellow-Green Group RHS 145C. Lower surface: Approximately            Yellow-Green Group RHS 145B.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped            disc florets. Diameter: At least 3-5 cm. Length: At least            3 cm. Color: Approximately Yellow-Green Group RHS 151B.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs from the end of            June to the middle of October in Germany, beginning            approximately 10-12 weeks after planting.        -   Average number of inflorescences per plant.—Numerous, 20-50.        -   Average number of inflorescences per branch.—From 1-5.        -   Disc and ray floret arrangement.—Disc florets are arranged            in the middle of the receptacle of the inflorescence with            ray florets extending outwardly therefrom.        -   Fragrance.—Stabile.        -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: 10-16 cm. Height (depth): 2-3 cm.            Diameter of disc: 2.5-3.5 cm. Receptacle height: 1-1.5 cm.            Receptacle diameter: 4-7 cm.        -   Ray florets.—Number per inflorescence: 15-20. Arrangement:            In one or two whorls. Length: 4-7 cm. Width: 2-3 cm. Shape:            Elliptical. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Acute. Margin Entire.            Texture: Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower surface:            Rough. Color: When opening: Upper surface: Approximately            Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A, with a bit of brown            (approximately Brown Group RHS 200A) toward the base. Lower            surface: Approximately Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B, with a            light shimmer of green. At maturity: Upper surface:            Approximately Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A from the middle to            the apex, mixed with approximately Brown Group RHS 200A from            the middle to the base. Lower surface: Approximately            Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B, with a light shimmer of            reddish-brown toward the base. Ground color description:            Approximately Yellow-Orange Group RHS 17A from the middle to            the apex, mixed with approximately Brown Group RHS 200A from            the middle to the base. Venation: Appearance: Parallel.            Color: Upper surface: Same color as the florets. Lower            surface: Same color as the florets.        -   Disc florets.—Number per inflorescence: Numerous; too many            to quantify. Arrangement: In the center of receptacle.            Length: About 5-10 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular.            Apex: Five-pointed. Color: Immature: Approximately Brown            Group RHS 200A. At maturity: Approximately Brown Group RHS            200A.        -   Phyllaries.—Number per inflorescence: 20-35. Arrangement: In            about three whorls. Length: 1-3 cm. Width: 3-8 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Elongated oval. Base: Fused. Margin:            Undulate. Texture: Upper surface: Rough, with pubescence            present. Lower surface: Rough, with pubescence present.            Color: Immature: Upper surface: Approximately Green Group            RHS 138A. Lower surface: Approximately Green Group RHS 138B.            At maturity: Upper surface: Approximately Green Group RHS            138A. Lower surface: Approximately Green Group RHS 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—        -   Androecium.—Presence: On ray and disc florets. Number (per            floret): Numerous. Filament length: 1-2 mm. Filament color:            Approximately Brown Group RHS 200A. Anther: Shape: Round.            Length: 1 mm. Color: Approximately Brown Group RHS 200A.            Pollen: Color: Yellow. Amount: Plentiful; too much to            quantify.        -   Gynoecium.—Presence: In ray and disc florets. Pistil length:            About 2 mm. Stigma: Shape: Two-parted. Color: Approximately            Brown Group RHS 200B. Style: Length: 1-2 mm. Color: Brown.        -   Seeds.—        -   Shape.—Oval.        -   Overall size.—Approximately 2 mm.        -   Color.—Approximately Mark Group RHS 202A.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rudbeckia plant named‘BullRudi 06’, as is herein illustrated and described.